Autobiography

Journal of David Moore

Autobiography

I have thus far given the names and birth of my relatives. I shall now proceed with my own journal. Mostly passing over my youthful days which was spent sometimes on the farm and sometimes in school, and will begin with the Patriot war or Rebellion in Lower Canada, which was got up in 1837, by Joseph Papineau and others of his associated friends under the cry and pretence of Oppression from the British Government. But as I with many others well understood that it was only got up for power, felt to take up arms in defense of the Government. Accordingly, a volunteer company was made up in the township of Eardley. My uncle David Moore was appointed Captain, Joseph Lust, Leuit., Thos. Josey, Ensing, and myself Sargent. We were regularly drilled two days in each week during most of the winter of 1837 and '38. We were continued under this organization until the war closed, but were never actually called into service. In the time of this war Susan Mariah Vorce came to my fathers to live, and on the 19th of August 1839 I married her. She was born Feb. 5, 1810, in Winsor Co. State of Vermont.

In the latter part of the year 1841, two Mormon Elders came into the neighborhood and began to preach. I went to hear them, felt fully satisfied that they had truly a new doctrine, yet very plain and reasonable. I therefore felt to investigate the truth of the work, as they claimed that the Lord had again spoken from the Heavens to one Joseph Smith, and had revealed to him a hidden record of the Ancient Inhabitants of America, and that said record contained many precious things in regard to the fulfillment of prophesy and the fullness of the new and everlasting Gospel.

Accordingly after investigating the principles of Mormonism as it was called, for the space of some five or six weeks I went forward and was baptized by Murray Seamon, one of the said elders. My wife was also baptized at the same time, and a man by the name of Barnabas Merrifield and his wife were also baptized, after which we were all confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This was done on or about the 17th of November 1841.  I still lived at home with my father and mother.  They also believed in the truth of Mormonism, but were restrained from joining the Church through the influence of others that were opposed to the doctrines set forth by the Prophet Joseph and other Elders of said Church.  After joining the Church I soon saw and felt my weakness. I had now to begin a new life on the earth, to begin to pray to my Heavenly Father and to study the Scriptures, Book of Mormon, and other works of the Church.  I had also to avoid controversy with those that felt to oppose the truth, being left as it were alone, the Elders having left the place, the next day after I was baptized. I soon began to prepare to gather with the saints at Nauvoo.  But my father and mother being quite old and all the family married and gone by themselves, but myself, they felt very anxious for me to stay with them and take care of them in their old days, which I had a great desire to do, but felt that duty and my salvation called me to the headquarters of the Church, and accordingly labored very hard during the entire winter; some times in my shop making sleighs, the rest of the time in getting out timber for a block house 30 by 40 feet for a man by the name of English, who was to make me one horse wagon.  I also purchased a set harness for my horse and got what clothing that I could.

Sometime in the forepart of the winter I had the following dream, which I feel to insert here.  It appeared to me that I was in a Roman Catholic Church, which was under construction, and viewing the many curious works on it, felt to marvel within myself why it was that man would invent so many different modes and ways to worship God, and go to such vast expense to build churches and other buildings and yet all was uncertain of their future destiny. At this time while I was in the church I heard a sound as the report of a cannon, and the workman commenced to run to and fro.  I went out to-see what was the matter, and saw the earth covered with a dense white cloud and man and beast in-commotion.  I knelt down and prayed to my Heavenly Father to save me from all pending danger, when a bright column or pillar came and stood in the air near me, and a voice came out of the cloud saying "FEAR GOD AND GIVE GLORY TO HIM, FOR THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGEMENT IS COME."  I also heard other voices in different places as it were men talking to each other, but I could not understand the words, it being in some other tongue. The clouds then withdrew and passed up from the face of the earth, and I saw many men running to and fro apparently much frightened, and all of their works seemed to cease.  My brother Elias came to me and seemed very much alarmed at what had taken place.  I commenced and was telling him what it was when I woke up.

In the spring I took the timber to English and took his notes for the same which amounted to about $l50.00 with a renewed promise of having my wagon as soon as his workmen could make it. This was sometime in May, but the time passed away and no wagon made until about the first of August, when he at last got the wagon about completed.  I was then informed that his men intended to put an attachment on the wagon for their pay. I then started after the wagon (the shop was over four miles off) and on the way I asked the Lord that if it was his will that I should gather with the Saints at Nauvoo, he would put it into the hearts of those men, English and his workmen, to give me up the wagon without any further trouble. Accordingly when I arrived I found English and his workmen in the best of humor and I got my wagon without any trouble at all.  After I left and got on my road home again I truly felt thankful to my Heavenly Father for his kindness softening the hearts of those men in the manner that was visible to me.  I now went to work and was soon ready for my journey to Nauvoo. 

My father seeing that I was fully determined to go to Nauvoo began very strongly to urge me to stay with him, offering me ten acres more land out of his farm; this ten acres lay on the main highway, and was worth some 50 dollars per acre at that time. He had also some years previous to this, made his will, in which he willed me one hundred acres of land and one half of all his effects besides, (which will, was not in full force until his death) this he said should stand good besides, and if I preferred it, he would give me full possession of all the land so directed to me by will, provided I would stay at home with him, otherwise he would break the will and give his land and property to my brothers. I then told him he must do as he saw fit about that matter, but my conscience could not be sold for land or money, and the step that I was soon about to take, was to fulfill the requirements of God in gathering according to his commandments, and although I regretted to leave those that was near and dear to me, and go far distant to a land of strangers, yet I viewed it a duty to do so.

As election about this time commenced at Alymer, a town four miles from my father ‘s home, in which there was quite a party spirit and a religious one too, got up.  A man named McGuey was the Roman Catholic candidate and a man by the name 0f Day the Protestant candidate to the Provincial Government Legislature of Canada from the Northern district of the County of Ottawa. The first day of the election a great fight took place at the polls in which McGuey party cleared the ground.  The next day I went to see how affairs was going and see if it were safe for me to pass through the town, as it was thronged by thousands of men, many of them drunk and quarreling, an affray took place while I was there.  One of the special Constables arrested a man for disturbing the peace, and his party tried to rescue him, but could not.  I returned home towards evening weary with the affairs of Gentile folly.  I was informed by some of my friends that they heard several state their intentions of upsetting and mashing our wagons when we were passing Aylmer.  I therefore concluded that they would have to catch me first.  Accordingly on the 15th of August, 1842, Barnabas Merrifield and his wife came to my father's all ready for the journey.  My two oldest brothers wives and their children also came in to bid us a lasting farewell.  Having much to arrange preparatory to starting in the morning, I therefore did not retire to rest at all during the night.

About 3 o'clock in the morning of the 16th, I bid my" ‘father, mother, and the rest good-by, and left the house.  My mother's cries I could hear for some distance, which caused me to have a very heavy heart as I commenced my journey.  I, having a splendid horse for traveling, soon found myself near Aylmer Village.  Barnabas and his wife close behind, he having a wagon and two horses, it was not yet light, and we passed by the place and did not so much as see a person in the street or about any of the houses.  We passed on to Bytown ferry and crossed over the river by the time the sun was an hour high in the morning. This was some 12 miles from my Father's.  We then travelled mostly a northwest course to Richmond, something near or quite 20 miles farther on our way.  We traveled something over 40 miles in the course of the day.  Passing by where a cousin of mine lived which was also a sister of Merrifield's wife.  This woman, the daughter of Roger Moore one of my father's brothers, was married to a man by the name of Chester Chapman.  Merrifield and his wife went in to see them, I preferred to remain at my wagon, where they soon joined me again, their short visit not being so agreeable as they had anticipated.

The next day Aug. 17 we traveled‘ to somewhere within about 30 miles of Kingston by taking an old military road and crossing two very bad old bridges, which road was much shorter than the main traveled road.  After we camped at night an man by the name of Richard Shelden, an Elder from Nauvoo, came to camp and wanted to accompany us to Nauvoo which was soon agreed to by me furnishing him his board and B. Merrifield taking him in as a passenger.

During this day's, travel a Baptist minister fell in company with us and wished to have a talk as he readily saw by our mode of traveling that we were Mormons.  But Barnabas would not talk with him. As we were traveling with this man a Quaker or Universalist (I know not which) came running across the field to us wanting to know where we were going, we told him we were traveling to Nauvoo, he then told us that he thought we had a very soft place in our heads or we would not be traveling to such a place.  Mr. Drummond, the Baptist minister soon stopped him saying that such insulting language was unbecoming any man.  After this Mr. Drummond and myself had quite a lengthy debate on the subject of Mormonism, which he found he could not refute although it was only supported by a mere child in Mormonism.

We passed on from day to day and place to place until we arrived at Toronto where I had to purchase a pair of shoes for myself and another pair for my wife.  Here Barnabas got angry with me because I did not buy a pair each for him and his wife which I told him I could not do for I had not the money to spare, this he also well knew to be the case. We continued our journey, R. Shelden yet boarding with me, according to our agreement.  When we arrived at Winsor, U.C., Barnabas took out a box of tools weighing a little over 100 pounds, and set it down on the ground, saying to me: "you have got to haul this or leave it, just as you please."  This box I had paid him for hauling to Nauvoo, before we had started on our journey.

I seeing his determined spirit to pick some quarrel with me, took the box and set it by the side of my wagon, without saying much of anything to him.  The next day we crossed over to Detroit and after I had paid the required duties, I had only fifty cents left.  Barnabas had not money enough to pay his, so the Customs House officers went to work and made a new valuation of his a effects and his wagon and two horses.  The harness and his wagon and clothing all only amounted to about $8.00 while my one horse, harness, wagon, and the few books and clothing that I had they taxed me $12.60, and then made a discount on my money to such a degree that it cost me in all nearly or quite 20 dollars.  While they were reappraising B. Merrifields effects I told him I would drive out of town and wait for him which I did, and when he came along he never stopped for me to get into the road, but laid the whip to his horses and drove as fast as he could.  I soon got my horse to the wagon again and started on thinking I would take the times easy, but my horse being of a high spirit and fretful nature soon got very warm by me holding him in, so I had to let him take a quicker pace, whereby he soon got up with Barnabas' team, although he was trying to make them do their best.  After finding he could not get away by driving so fast he came to a sudden halt and turned out of the road and stopped for noon.  I drove on three or four rods and stopped also for dinner.  Bro. Sheldon did not seem to feel exactly right about something, however, but little was said on any side.

We traveled along in company until we passed Coldwater in Michigan, when as we were traveling one forenoon, Barnabas fell some distance behind, and then told Bro. Sheldem that he intended to stop somewhere about there and work some before he went any farther.  Shelden then took his valise and traveled on until he overtook me, saying at the same time that he was glad to get out of such company.  We contined our journey that on towards Nauvoo as fast we could, Shelden and me walking, turn about.  I soon found out by him that B. Merrifield had told him shortly after leaving Toronto that he intended to throw off my box of tools at Detroit and drive off and leave me, which accounted to me for his singular actions at that place.  When we came to within four of five miles of Valparzo, Indiana, we turned off the road something like a mile and a half and stopped at a house (where Shelden was acquainted) for some two or three days.  We then started on again and as we passed through the town of Valparaiso we saw Barnabas' wagon and horses standing under a shed, but saw nothing of him or his wife.

We continued on our journey occasionally selling off our things for articles of food for ourselves and Shelden and my horse (which I kept tied to my wagon at night wherever we camped, throughout the entire journey).

We struck the Illinois River at Jalieth (Joliet), and then continued down the river as far as Peru, where we turned off westward to Monmouth and from thence down the Mississippi River to Nauvoo where we arrived on Friday, September 23, 1842, something near the middle of the day.

Nauvoo looked dry and barren to the Prairies we had crossed on our way through Indiana and Illinois, yet I felt glad to get through with my journey, having traveled something like 1300 miles.  We traveled in to the city from the east side and passed on down Young Street.  When in about four or five blocks of the Temple Square, Shelden came to my wagon and wanted his valise, saying we had not better drive any farther into the city until we found a place and bid us good-by and started away.  My indignation was kindled against such conduct for I had gave him his board all the way and sold off many articles of clothing, besides some of my tools and that at a very low price, 80¢ had walked miles upon miles on the way for the purpose of letting him ride, had furnished him bedding to sleep upon, and made him as comfortable as myself and wife could under the circumstances, and then to desert me in such a manner and that too in a place where I had not the first acquaintance living, was more than I could bear without speaking about it to him.  He felt the force of my appeal and stopped until I drove on to where he stood, he then directed the way to Emery Barrows, one block east and two blocks north of the Temple Block.  Bro. Barrows had but one small room for his family, but told me if I could not get any place to suit me better I could stay there.  Bro. Shelden went with me to several houses, but we found all full, and I was compelled to return to Bro. Barrows again where we put up for the night.  Bro. Barrows wife's maiden name was Huldah Nickerson.

Next day, Saturday 24th Sept. 1842, I borrowed a grass scythe from Bro. Parker, who also was from Canada, and myself and wife went back to the prairie and I cut a small load of hay, and returned with it to Bro. Barrows again.  I then went to see the Nauvoo Legion on their general muster, which was very interesting to me.  On my return I found most of my hay gone, and I traced it up to the next house on the east, where the Widow Gifford lived.  Some of her family or acquaintance was staying there that day, which took my hay.  I had a very small allowance to feed my horse on during the night, left from some six or seven hundred pounds. I truly felt bad in spirit as well as in body, for I had felt unwell most of the day.

Sunday 25th I went to meeting which was held in a fine young oak grove a little west of the Temple.  Shortly after I arrived, Joseph Smith, the Great Prophet of the last days, came upon the stand and took his seat.  The attention of the entire congregation was turned towards him.  I also took a good look at him for the first time, and I thought him a fine plain looking man, large in stature, light in complexion, having an honest look, and to me altogether a very interesting appearance.  Meeting being now open he arose and said that he felt to prophesy some this morning, as he had of late been obliged to keep out of sight on account of his unrelenting persecutors, he therefore felt to say to the people, that inasmuch as they would keep the Commandment of God, they should never be drove from their habitations in Nauvoo, but that he would not promise that they would not be coaxed to leave.  I thought it curious to hear a prediction the first time I saw the prophet, (but however strange it may seem, this same prediction was literally fulfilled in the latter part of the year 1845, by a delegation from Quincy Ill. waiting of the authorities of the Church and quietly soliciting them and the church to leave the state which was agreed to and accordingly commenced to be done in February 1846).

On Monday 26th of September I was taken down very sick with the chills and fever or Ague, and continued very sick for about four weeks.  Susan, my wife, also was taken very bad with sore eyes, but was instantly healed by the laying on of hands, by an old man by the name of Bosley.

While I was sick I heard Mrs. Barrows give Bro. R.D. Shelden quite a lecturing for bring me there.  She inquired of him if I had any money, he said he thought I had not, she then said that she thought I would never recover again, and she would like to know what would be done with my property all this time.  She supposed I was asleep.  My reflections was very queer on the subject, as this kind of treatment was something that I was not accustomed to receive.

I ate but very little during my sickness and suffered extremely from pain in my head and back, but by obtaining some ague pills I got rid of the chills for a short time.  During the first days of my sickness Levi Nickersen (a brother of Mrs. Barrows) strongly urged a trade on me of a City lot and some brick and shingles for my horse, wagon and harness, and a watch stating that the lot cost him one hundred and fifty dollars.  I considered my position in the city of Nauvoo, amongst strangers, without any money or means to help myself with, or to take care of my horse.  I therefore concluded to let him have my horse, wagon, harness, and a silver watch that had cost me ten dollars in Canada.  He made a positive agreement to make out and sign over a deed to me of said city lot forth with but this agreement he did not fulfill until he was compelled to.  Shortly after I got the Ague broke up on, I settled up with Emery Barrows and he charged me six dollars for four weeks board, while most of the time I was so very sick that I could not eat the amount of two hearty meals in a week.  I however paid the bill and said nothing on the subject.

After I paid my board bill I gave a man by the name of Chester Phillips a dollar for moving my things to my lot, I also got him to haul me some bricks for a chimney, I also got my shingles on the ground.  I then took some of the small oaks that grew on the lot and set them in the ground. I then cut hazel bush and wove them in all around the sides like a basket and plastered it over with mud outside and in. Susan, my wife, done all she could to assist me in this work, but it seemed as if I never could get it done, the pain continued in my back and head mostly every day for about three weeks, at which time I was again taken down with the chills.  I then obtained some more ague medicine from the Temple committee by the assistance of Bro. Ormond Butler, this again relieved me for a few days, and I was enabled to get a little more prepared for winter by the help of my wife.  Flour was hard to get in Nauvoo, although cheap in price, but was held as a cash article.  I had sold bro. Charles McGary cloth for a pair of pants by which I got flour enough to last us most of the winter, which was a great benefit to me.

After I had got my mud and wood walls mostly done and covered, I was taken sick again with the real shaking ague and continued to have a shake every day for three weeks, when one day Bro. Lewis Eager called in to see me as he was passing by, and. after looking at me for a while he began to ask me questions in regard to my sickness.  I told him I had broke up the ague twice before and as such medicine cost so much and done me so little good I had come to the conclusion to wear the ague out or let it wear me out.  He sat down a few moments and then said he felt like administering to me, which he did, and I missed my shake for that day.  The next day I had another shake, but I soon fell asleep with it.  The day following the old man came in and administered again and I was intirely (sic) healed.

There was some five or six inches of snow on the ground by this time, but in the course of two or three days I felt so strong that I traveled down to Justice Robinson's to see if my deed for my lot was made out and signed off according to Nickersons agreement, but it was not yet done.

Somewhere about this time I got a letter from my Brother Elias requesting me to return home again, and if I needed any means to help me back he would send me money enough to supply my wants if I would write him to that effect.  I wrote him an answer in which I declined the offer.

During this entire winter I could not get any work to help myself with to any amount, and my health was poor.  But I did not like idleness, I therefore spent several days in labor at the stone quarry, getting out rock for the Temple which was under erection, the walls being some ten or twelve feet above the ground when I arrived at Nauvoo.

Barnabas Merrifield did not get to Nauvoo till some time in the beginning of winter, he had sold or traded off his wagon and team and got into some difficulty about the pay.  He commenced circulating some lying reports about me to some who had not yet seen me, about as soon as he arrived in Nauvoo, of which his wife told me, and said that she had told him that he was a doing me a great wrong in acting as he did towards me.

During the beginning of this winter Charles A. Chase and his wife was taken sick and were removed to Isaac Chases's; Charles uncles house, where they remained till some time in February.  When they returned home again they wished me and my wife to move in with them, which we did.  Some time in March or beginning of April, Levi Nickerson sent his wagon to me to repair; it was the wagon that I had let him have and I agreed to put in a reach or coupling pole for him at the time of trade, he was to find the timber for it.

He had now broken the cap to one of the iron axles and bent the iron very bad.  He sent no timber with which to mend it, but said if I would mend the wagon he would give me the deed to my lot, so I put the wood on the axle as it was and then sent one wheel and put it by.  He sent the wagon but sent no deed.  I told the person that came for the wagon that it could not go until the deed would come, the next morning the deed came.

In April I moved home again and Bro. Chase moved to his farm on the prairie.  During this April conference I was recommended to the authorities by Bro. R.D. Sheldon, upon which I was ordained an Elder under the hands of 0. Pratt and another Elder.  At this conference I was also organized into the 2nd Company of Artillery under Capt. T.O. Angel, of Col. John Scott Regiment, Nauvoo Legion.

Some time in September Clarissa, Barnabas Merrifield's wife, met with a sudden death.  She had been unwell with chills and fever for some time.  She had been baptized in the Mississippi River several times for her health.  (They lived at the time on the bank of the river about a mile above the upper Steamboat landing) and at this time wished to be baptized again.  Accordingly James Butler and Barnabas assisted her out and into a flat boat that was-near by.  James Butler then went on shore again and left Barnabas to baptize her.  She commenced to wash her hands and face, and remarked that the water felt colder than usual and did not want to go in, upon this Barnabas said that he was not to be fooled that way and pushed her in.  Her clothes fastened on the oar pin of the boat turned her head downwards under the water.  Barnabas then strove to unfasten her clothes from the pin but could not as her weight was mostly hanging upon her clothes.  James Butler seeing her position ran to her assistance and pulled her into the boat, but she only drawed one breath after she was got out of the water.  This report reached me when I returned home at night from my work on the Temple.

The next day I went down to see her.  She truly looked bad and had the appearance of being strangled as the blood was oozing from her stomach and running out at the corner of her mouth.  While I was there some of the Brethren came in and among them an old man by the name of Henderson.  As I was standing out near the door he came up to me and asked if that was the place where the man had drowned his wife the day before.  I answered that I did not know, there is an woman dead in the house.  I assisted in getting her coffin and having her as well and respectfully laid out as possible under the circumstances, and the Sexton took her and buried her in the grave yard.

This fall the Vermont camp arrived: Sison Chase, Charles A's father and mother, Francilla Durfey, some of the Hatches, and Addison Smith was in said camp.  Addison Smith's wife was taken sick shortly after they arrived, and after an illness of some four weeks, died leaving four children named Delia, Chester, Mary, and Louisa Catherine.  The children were scattered to different places as Bro. A. Smith was also sick and destitute of means.  Louisa was taken to Alvin Hardens and taken care of by his wife (C.A. Chases Sister) until some time in the month of December l843, when C.A. Chase enquired of me if I would not take a little girl and bring her up as my own child.  I told him I would.  I went to where Bro. Addison was living, (Job Barnum's) and had a talk with him on the subject of taking Louisa as he had previously sent for me to come.  After conversing a while he gave me the child as my own.  I returned to Bro. Harden's and told them what Bro. Smith desired and then went home.

In a few days they brought her over to my house. The date of her birth is thus; Louisa Catherine Smith was born in Addison County, Vermont, Nov. 17, 1842.  She was therefore a little over a year old when we took her.  She could not walk and had several sores on her but of a fine appearance.

During this fall and the beginning of winter, the order of celestial marriage began to be talked of as existing in the Church.  I must confess that my mind was somewhat troubled on the subject, until I had the following dream.  I dreamed that my sister Hannah was dead in the spirit, took a chair and set down in front of my bed and said to me, "David, your mind is troubled in respect to the order of marriage which you do not understand at the present, but where I am, we understand all about it, its all right, and when the right time comes I want you to remember me.”

About this time a widow Johnson was living with Chas A. Chase.  She had come with the Vermont Camp. She was much troubled about the order of marriage, which was now almost the general topic.  I used to take pleasure in talking to her on the subject and see her rage and scold about the system.  One time I was talking to her when I asked her if she wanted me to prophesy on her head.  She said she did not care whether I did or not, I then told her that twelve months would not pass over her head before she would be sealed to some man that had another wife.  She was angry with me for saying so, but before six months had passed away she was sealed to Reynolds Cahoon, but I had no opportunity of laughing at her for so doing for she seemed quite shy every time I met her after.

During the winter private meetings were held all over the city in which much good instruction was given on the subject of the Plan of Redemption.  Often the Sealing Covenant was touched upon but never plainly preached.

With the approach of spring the spirit of persecution began to rage in the bosoms of Robert D. Foster, Higbus, and others. Foster got up a printing press and began to issue a paper against Joseph and the authorities in general called the Nauvoo Expositor.  They issued one number of this paper and had the type set for the second number when the City Martial with the police took the paper and burnt it out in front of the house, and threw the type into the street.  This was by order of the City Council, they having declared it a libelous establishment and a nuisance.  This caused persecution to rage with a greater determined spirit, amongst both gentiles and apostates and every plan of device was entered into on the part of our enemies to destroy Joseph Smith and others, but Joseph avoided being drawn into the power of the mob.  He went and entered bonds before Esq. D.B. Wells in respect to the final settlement of the case before an impartial tribunal. All this did not answer the mob spirit and desire for they were fully determined to shed the blood of the Prophet.  In May the mob began to collect and hold meetings and to devise plans how they might get hold of Joseph and Hyrum, his brother, and others.

Accordingly more writs were issued that a form of law might shade their real intent, for they, the mob leaders had publicly said, “that the law would not reach old Joe, but powder and ball would."  Matters went on in this way some time, mobs collecting and holding very excitable meetings, threatening Nauvoo with utter destruction. 

In the meantime it was considered prudent to call out the Nauvoo Legion for the protection of life and property.  After the Legion was called out, and Joseph reviewed the entire force of the Church, numbering some five thousand men, he thought best for to leave the country and make his way to the rocky mountains as he had received an understanding or revelation to the effect that the Church would some day have to move there for protection and safety.  He therefore crossed the Mississippi River in the night.  Several of the Brethren accompanying him, amongst the rest was Hyrum his brother, and Patriarch of the Church. 

They had not remained but a few days before they were urged to return.  It appears from the statement of men, that were at that time present with Joseph and Hyrum, that Joseph did not wish to return, but by the feelings of some cowardly persons who were intimidated by the threats of the mob, and the feelings of confidence which Hyrum felt in their safety, Joseph was persuaded to return to Nauvoo again and from thence he with Hyrum, Willard Richards, and John Taylor of the Twelve Apostles and quite a guard besides went to Carthage and gave security for their appearance at the next term of court, after this was done they, the above four, were again arrested and put in Carthage Jail on a charge of treason.  

Governor Thomas Ford of Illinois, was at Carthage at the time and had placed himself at the head of the mob troops which had assembled an that place previous to his arrival.  Joseph Smith, previous to this, got a promise of protection from mob violence, at the hand of the Governor, and after they were incarcerated into the jail, the Governor visited them there and renewed his promise and farther promised that he should go with him, but on 27th of June, l884, a day that will long be remembered by the Saints, Governor Ford took a company of the troops with him, (he having previously disbanded several other companies) and left for Nauvoo, leaving Joseph, Hyrum, Willard Richards, and John Taylor in jail, there to be murdered by the mob, which was done towards evening of the same day (27 June).

While they were being murdered in Carthage Jail by a mob with faces blackened with powder or some other black substance and numbering 150 or 200`men, Old Governor Ford was in Nauvoo abusing the people about some supposed acts of disobedience to law, or other acts of unchristian like conduct The mob rushed upon the jail which was pretended to be guarded by eight or ten of the Carthage Greys, Joseph's most bitter enemies.  A pretended squabble took place, the guard soon gave away or joined the mob.  The prisoners were in the upper story of the jail at the time, and the mob forced open the door and commenced firing into the room, shooting Hyrum through the head.  He fell to the floor exclaiming, "I am a dead man."  Joseph was defending himself as well as he could with one of Allen's six shooters.  Doc. W. Richards was knocking down the muzzles of the guns with his walking stick.  After Joseph had discharged four of the barrels of the revolver he leaped into the window from whence he fell out. 

He was no doubt shot while in the window, some think not, as he was taken from the ground and placed against a well curb, and four of the crowd ordered to shoot him which was done, he exclaiming, "O LORD MY GOD." Hyrum was shot with three balls after he fell, Joseph also received four balls.  Elder John Taylor had his watch broken in his vest pocket by a ball as he was attempting to leap out of a window, the force of the ball threw him back into the room where he has again fired at, when he rolled under the bed which was in the room, the mob continuing to fire at him for some time, cutting off quite a large piece of flesh from one of his hips.  After they had succeeded in killing Joseph and Hyrum, and wounding Taylor severely, the mob then left leaving Doctor Richards unharmed.  During the excitement outside while the mob was killing Joseph, or exulting over the victory they had gained, Doctor Richards conveyed Elder Taylor to one of the cells and covered him up under a bed, he then returned to the room where Hyrum still lay on the floor. He went to the window where Joseph had fell and looked out upon the horrid scene before him.

The mob still on the ground or near by and all his faithful friends so horribly butchered up by them, and his own fate still very uncertain.  The heart that could not feel to sympathize with him must truly be void of feeling.  The mob however dispersed and the dead and wounded were taken to some home in Carthage, and the next day were taken to Nauvoo.

I was called up by the sound of the bass drum before light in the morning as was our signal; all the troops had to report to the public square near the temple, but before I left home the news came to me of the massacre at Carthage.  I was soon on our parade ground, where we soon got all the particulars of the affair, it caused a very deep feeling in the bosom of all present for all the SAINTS LOVED THEM.  The next move on the part of the officers in command of the Legion was to quiet the minds of the people so that a deadly vengeance might not be taken on the old settlers as the mob party styled themselves.  Therefore much preaching was done to keep the Legion at home, and for all to keep as silent as they could on the occasion.  About three o'clock p.m., the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum were brought to Nauvoo.  A procession was formed of immense length and followed after the corpses to Joseph's mansion, where they were dismissed until the next days.

Before the people could get to see them, their bodies had been placed in rough oak coffins to be brought in.  New coffins had therefore to be made and the bodies placed therein ready for the intire (sic) members of the church to take the parting look on the faces of their beloved Prophet and Patriarch.  On the 29th of June the mansion was opened and the Brethren, Sisters, and even young children commenced, about 10 o'clock a.m., to pass in at the North front door and through the room where the bodies lay in their coffins with lid open which exposed their faces only to view.  My feeling cannot be described as I passed through and out of a West door, which course was directed by the police and observed by all present.  Many tears were shed by those who were privileged to see the lifeless bodies of their beloved Prophet and Patriarch.

I was still on duty most of the time taking my tour on guard duties at night.  Flour and pork was purchased and donated for the benifit (sic) of the needy, but I never got any except one time, for I felt it not only my duty but the duty of all to leave the rations in the hands of the Commissary as long as we could do without.  I saw one young man getting his rations of flour and pork when at the same time his mother (with whom he lived) had an abundance of dried apples and peaches as also flour, bacon, and every thing to make them comfortable.  I reproved him for the act. 

About two weeks after the murder of Joseph and Hyrum, I was liberated from Military duty.  I then went over into Iowa with a man by the name of John Henderson and worked a few days making shingles for a man by the name of Green.

We then went into the harvest field and worked some 4 or 5 days harvesting for him.  We then turned hone again.  I then went to work at joiner work on Doc W Richard's house, it was about two blocks West of the Temple Block and some three blocks South, and I lived about three fourths of a mile Northeast of the Temple.  I therefore had over a mile to go to my work.  I labored until I had nothing fit to wear on my feet or back and his house was still unfinished and the weather beginning to be cold.

I then went to Madison, Iowa, to work for a man by the name of Reeves, where I stayed three weeks for 73 cents per day and board and lodging.  During my stay there I was forced to have several debates with Mr. Reeves in the presence of his wife, a fine young lady.  On the first evening that he attacked me on the principles of Mormonism, I asked him if he actually was a full beliver (sic) in the Bible, he said he was.  I then told him that I was soon to make a Mormon of him, for it was what we all fully believed in. 

He got his Bible and took his seat at the table and began very sanctimoniously to quote his objection as he said to Mormonism, I would refer him to other passages to explain his quotations.  He soon found it was of no use to argue against the truth, because his own Bible would soon confound him.  I therefore soon had but little to do in the shape of argument, but he would not give up his position. Affairs remained about this way for the whole three weeks.  I had however told him several times that it was to no purpose for us to have any conversation on the subject before us, as his belief was fixed and so was mine.

There were three more of the brethren from Nauvoo at work with me for the same Reeves, finishing off a store for him, one named John Evans, George W. Taggard, and Phares Hells.  They all agreed to quit or have more wages, and then proposed to me, this was in consequence of Reeves acting so mean the night before and all that day.  On the evening before he said that “if there was any worst Hell Joseph Smith had ought to be there."  I asked him his reasons for such feelings, whether Joseph Smith had ever injured him in any way, he said no.  He then said that Joseph Smith had fined a certain Doctor who lived in Madison, fifty dollars and that through false pretentions had collected quite a number of people together at Nauvoo, to live in poverty and let their children grow up in ignorance.

I soon used up his arguments and that in so complete a manner that his wife, who had from the beginning listened with great attention, exclaimed or remarked that if she believed Mormonism ever so much it would not answer for her to join our church, for all of her relations would disown her, I told her that relatives should never trammel my conscience.  As I before stated, this expression of Reeves and his ungentlemanly conduct during the following day was the principle cause why they struck for more wages.

I had been the means of getting Taggart and Wells into the job of work.  So when Saturday evening came and we had got all of our pay in our own hands Wells broached the subject.  Reeves flew into a terrible rage and began on me again somewhat on the same strain as he had the night before.  I also catched the same spirit and was about to give him a good drubbing, but he thought that climbing was the most safe way for him to get out of the scrape.  They hired again to him for a dollar per day after agreeing to not any one to stay unless all four stayed by his giving us all one dollar a day a piece accordingly we all went home together.  I would not return but Evans and two others went back.  I therefore was thrown out of work by those that I had placed in the job, true our wages was low but then we were getting store goods for pay.

One important item which took place some time in July I will here mention. In a short time after the unprincipled massacre of Joseph and Hyrum, Sidney Rigdon returned from the Eastern States and began to set up his claims to the Presidency of the Church, by saying that as the Church was not twenty one years of age they had a right to select and appoint a Guardian until they were old enough to act for themselves, this caused quite a stir amongst the saints.  Some believed in Sidney and others did not, amongst the believers were several of our leading men, such as William Marks, President of the Stake or City of Nauvoo, and several others whose names might be mentioned but perhaps it would not be wisdom.

Affairs stood thus until some more of the twelve Apostles arrived, and Brigham Young, their president.  They arrived in the afternoon or evening and Sydney had out a great appointment for the next day to give the Saints the chance to make the important choice of their Guardian.  I was at this time at work on Doctor Richard's house and it was some time the last of July if my memory serves me right, Doctor Richards came up to his house quite early in the morning (something unusual for him).  I mentioned the meeting to him, he said for me to hold on until I saw him and some others pass along up. I did not know at this time that Brigham Young had arrived.  I however waited until I began to think they had certainly passed up.  I then left my work and went up East of the Temple to where Sydney was preaching, he had about finished his discourse.  He was in a carriage in the midst of the large assembly of the saints when I arrived, I took my seat near the stand and my back towards it.  I therefore did not see Pres. Brigham Young until he called in a loud voice to the people as Sydney closed his discourse.  The attention of the people was soon turned to Pres. Young's remarks, and the result was that most all present voted to sustain the twelve Apostles in their calling and Priesthood and the organization of the Church as the Prophet Joseph had left it.  Sydney soon disappeared from among the congregation, and the people returned home satisfied, at least most of the people.  Some however felt dissatisfied, and amongst the rest of the enemies to Brigham Young, William Smith, brother to the Prophet Joseph, was not the least.  He however did not come out until sometime after the named meeting.

After I quit work for Reeves in Madison and had done some labor for myself at home, I went to see Doctor Richards, he had moved into his new house on which I had labored during the summer.  He did not seem satisfied because I had left him and went to Madison to work. I told him that I had labored for him until my shirts and shoes were most entirely worn out and I had no money to buy any more, and that I was aware that his circumstances would not admit of furnishing me or my family in clothing.  I had therefore taken this course to obtain a little clothing, and had now returned to settle up and also if he needed me to work for him yet more. He said he was entirely satisfied.

I then began and done several days work more for him, he gave me an order on the Temple Committee for some Forty dollars, and about $l.50 besides, and the balance of my labor I made him a present of, which was several days labor, the exact amount I don't remember.  My health was poor every spring and fall all the time I remained at Nauvoo I was therefore quite destitute of means from time to time.

Mobbing had ceased with the murder of Joseph and Hyrum. The poor mobocrats thinking that Mormonism would soon die with them.  Not much of note transpired during the remainder of the year 1844, Nauvoo was gradually on the increase, both in population and improvements.

Nothing of particular note transpired during the winter except the repealing of the City Charter of Nauvoo, but as spring appeared the old spirit of mobocracy began to take root again, and as we had no charter to be organized in a police capacity, the authorities organized the entire city into districts and appointed an officer over every ten men. They were called Bishops and Deacons and had to guard the city at night, to keep every thing straight.

This organization was kept up during the summer. I was appointed one of the Bishops and as I had a very large district assigned to me, I was allowed 13 men and we had to keep a watch over the north part of the city one night each week, including the steamboat landing.  Our weapons was a large hickory cane and a toothpick, (a huge knife) the object of the knife to whittle Rascals out of town.

The Temple was mostly the sole object of the Authorities, and every care was taken to push the completion of the edifice forward, the tilling of the vacant city lots was also recommended.  When the mob saw that the Mormons were all busy in tending to their own affairs and paying no attention to their threats, they gave up any action against the Church until fall.

In the fore part of the summer I went to meeting at the Seventies Hall.

Elder H.C. Kimball was present and spoke to us at considerable length, and amongst other remarks he told us that it was Press Brigham Young’s intention and that of the Twelve in general to have the Temple completed by the beginning of winter so as to be ready to give the Elders their Endowments, and that as the building of the Temple drawed to a close the Adversary would rage the harder against the Saints and if the Elders were not faithful the Devil would be in them and every thing they possessed.

I labored diligently in connection with the Brethren in building the Temple.  I worked on the yard framing the timbers for the roof and steeple until that was completed. In the month of August, Bro. Edwin Holden's wife was taken sick, and had not been sick long before she could see devils a plenty, and was completely overcome by them.  I was soon after called upon to go and administer to her which I did in connection with other Elders, but to no purpose as she was fully alienated in her feelings against her husband before her sickness, this I was not fully aware of at the time.  Others were also sick and tormented with devils.  I went to different places and laid hands on the sick and in several instances they soon recovered, but in no instance that I now recollect of was any one sick without being more or less afflicted with evil spirits, thus verifying Bro. Kimball's prediction to the letter.

Some time the first of September my wife was taken sick, she had fatigued herself much in taking care of Louisa, my little adopted girl, and others during the summer.   Louisa, one Sunday afternoon after we had returned, was taken very ill and it appeared as if she would go blind in a short time, a white matter gushed from her eyes and she had altogether a very strange appearance.  I laid hands on her and rebuked the destroyer, and in a few minutes she appeared quite well from the attack, yet from the prevailing diseases of the country it was hard to keep her from being laid on the bed of death.

Susan had also taken Mrs. Holden's youngest child and had nursed it until she was taken down herself.  The child was nearly well when it was taken home but owing to the state of its mother it was soon taken worse and died.

After Susan was taken sick, I was compelled to leave the Temple labors (and took most of my tools home) to take care of her, which I done as well as I could, cooking my victuals, harvesting my corn and garden vegetables and now and then going to administer to the sick which laid very heavy upon my own health.  The mob spirit began to rage again about this time.

Towards the last of September I was taken sick.  Susan had got enough recovered from her sickness so as to be able to set up a little before I was taken sick some 3 or 4 days.  I got a young man to haul me to the river where I was baptized some two or three times for my health, but to all no real purpose or effect.  The heat of the sun was uncommon oppressive to me on my return and I was nearly frantic with pain in my head and body.  By this time the mob had again began to assemble and about eight or nine days after I was taken sick Bro. Ira N. Spaulding came to warn me to muster in defense of the City and the Brethren of Green Plains and elsewhere of the settlements in the County. 

The mob had began to drive out the Mormons from their homes, burn their houses and grain, but Bro. Spaulding soon saw my condition and after laying on hands and administering to me returned to the duties before him.  I continued very sick about three months, and for one half of that time insensible to what was passing around me, I being-so very low and feeble.  Still Susan nursed me with all the care that her feeble state of health would admit, evil spirits endeavored to trouble me when I was first taken sick, but I resisted them with all my power.  I could see them as natural as I could any person, they floated around the room, in which I lay, without any apparent effort on their part.  The mob continued their depredation on the brethren most of the time that I was sick, during the latter part of which, the Authorities came to an agreement with some persons from Quincy to leave the state as soon as Spring opened.

During my sickness I received a letter from my Father in Eastern Canada, under date of October l8, 1845, stating the death of my Mother, which took place on the tenth of the same month, after a sickness of nine days. My Father urged me very strongly in his letter to leave the Mormons, as they were always in trouble and war, and to come back or go some where else where I could live in peace. I was too feeble to hear the letter read, and therefore it had to be laid by for some time.  When I first came to my senses after the stupor had measurably past off, all things seemed so strange.  My own house was altogether changed, and everything about it, in appearance, and when I got able to go to the door and look at the Temple, on which I had labored so faithfully during the summer, it looked as if it had suddenly sprang into existence.  It was so changed in its appearance during my sickness, and then the idea of having to move, I knew not where, and I so feeble and poor, all flashed the idea upon my mind and troubled me much.

After a while the endowments commenced (about the first of January I think) I was soon called upon to go and receive my endowments, but was still too feeble to go.  The Church had unanimously voted to help the poor away and this gave much hope to the poor, for many were extremely poor in Nauvoo.  But after a while Pres. Brigham Young came out in regard to helping the poor, on what he called a Sucker saying to their hogs when they turned them out to get their own living without being fed, ie, root hog or die, this injured the feelings of many of the honest poor of the Church at the time, and some left for different parts, some of which I think has never returned to the Church since.

From this time companies were organized, and all that could work at wagons were urged to go into some shop and form a kind of association in making and ironing of wagons for the journey.  The company that I was first organized in soon was dissolved and I was therefore left free to work as I could.  I looked around and found a quantity of oak and hickory timber ready for work at Whitford G. Wilsons, and no person to work it up.  I therefore made a bargain with him for it and commenced work some time about the middle of January, and continued to work in the shop until spring.  During this winter I had a very severe cough and my health was poor all the winter. About the time I commenced to work up the above mentioned timber I was again called on and went forward and received my washing and anointing.  Susan my wife, also received hers at the same time.

During the winter and spring, I earned a cow, four sheep, some pork and flour, and my ferriage over the Mississippi River, besides a number of tools and other articles.

I must here relate a dream that I had some time in the month of February after the first camp had left Nauvoo, and camped on Sugar Creek.  I dreamed that I was standing on the roof of the temple when a man was discovered standing one foot on the large guilded ball that rested on the dome and holding to the spire with one hand (his left) and pointing towards the Camp on Sugar Creek, said in a loud clear voice, "There (yonder) lies the Camp of the Saints and all is right".  This saying was repeated two or three times, and he then threw himself off at the west end of the temple, and went out of sight behind the steeple.

There appeared to be some eight or ten of the Brethren on the roof with me at the time some of them said that it was a man, and that he was killed, but I was aware from the first voice that it was an angel, and told them so, but they would not be satisfied until they had searched and could not find him.  After the dream my mind was very free and I felt to put forth every energy to get out of Nauvoo.

I had during my stay at Nauvoo taken a good deal of pains in cultivating my city lot, and had got quite a number of fine fruit trees, such as Apple, Cherry, and Peach of the best quality.  My peach trees (many to bear and all the others were in a fine growing condition. I had made a good fence around my lot and built a comfortable brick building on it also, although it was small.  I could not sell my lot for anything, all the newcomers were full of speculation (or in plain English), full of dishonesty, and because we were compelled to leave or do worse, they were determined to cheat us out of our hard earned property which we could not take with us.  They would not give only about from five to ten per cent on the first cost of good houses, and well improved city lots, and turn away with a scornful look if we asked any more.   After many attempts to sell my lot and improvements, I found that I could only get about $15.00 or $20.00 for it, I therefore resolved not to sell.  I had therefore to make the following sacrifice of property: One city lot on Hyrum Smiths second addition to City Nauvoo; first cost of lot $l50.00, cost of clearing and fencing $30.00 house, $60.00, Fruit trees $10.00, Total $250.00.

 This is certainly within bounds as to price.  I will now also add some of my loss of means in leaving Canada, alluded to on Page 7 of this journal: 100 acres of east half of my Father‘s farm, given to me by will but not deed, worth $l500;00, 1 note on English $23.50, 1 note on same (I believe) $l6.00, 1 other debt and order due me $4.00, 1 clock bought and paid for by me $20,00, 1 cast iron box stove and pipe $16.00, 1 sheet iron box stove and pipe $4.00, 1 overcoat paid to hired man $14.00, 2 hives of bees $12.00, dishes left in cupboard $3.00, total $l602.50, plus value of property in Nauvoo $250.00, total loss $l852.50.

This is also within bounds for price, and when I left Canada money was so scarce that I could not sell for cash, I therefore left it all in the hands of my Father, he had also willed me one half of all the movable effects which would of amounted to some $500.00 more, but in a short time he was induced to break his will and make a new one, thereby throwing me out of my share of the farm and giving it all out to the other members of the family which had all received a good share heretofore, thus leaving me without any share in anything, not even my own effects which I had left with him.

On the eighth day of May 1846, I left Nauvoo and crossed over the Mississippi River, and camped on the west bank of the river for the night.  Solomon Conley was engaged by me to haul my effects to Bentonsport, Van Buren County, Iowa, some 35 miles from Nauvoo.  My health was still very poor from the sickness, I had in the fall before.  We arrived in Bentonsport on the 12th of the month, it taking us 4 days or nearly so to make the trip.  On our arrival in town I soon saw the mob spirit manifested, but I paid no attention to any remarks that was made.  I enquired for a room or house to rent, but found none.  I then.moved on to the upper part of the town camped by or on the bank of Desmoines River.  On the second day after I crossed over to South Bentonsport where I obtained a rom in a house belonging to a John Smith who lived quite a distance away up the Desmoines River.  I soon got some small jobs of work, which was a material aid to me, the destitute circumstances in which I was at the time.

Some time after I arrived in Bentonsport a meeting was called at or near Bonaparte, which I attended, at which a letter was read which called on such of the saints as wished to go Long Island to Platt River and there assist in building Winter Quarters for the Brethren there and then get teams to move their own families on to that station.  This letter was wrote by Bishop George Miller and had Brigham Young’s name to it.  I supposed it all right, a good chance for me.  Accordingly myself and some four or five others started out with one yoke of oxen belonging to a Samuel Rouse.  We traveled to Soap Creek, some 60 or 70 miles in about 4 days.  Got in company with Joseph Young and family before we arrived at the creek.  I was very sick all the afternoon with an attack of Colerymorbus.  Pres. Joseph Young came over to my camp and administered to me and gave me some herb tea, and I soon got better.  That evening Elder E.T. Benson arrived from Council Bluffs or Pisgah, I am not certain which, and the next morning Pres. Joseph Young came to my camp and gave us his council to return to our families again, which was accordingly done.

I then went to work at wagon making and cabinet making and any kind of wood work that I could do for a living and continued to do so while I lived at Bentonsport, which was a little less than three years.

On the 24^th of Nov. 1846, I left John Smith’s house and moved into one that Bro. Jos. Lithead and I had built together on a lot belonging to Geo. C. Allender.  Bro. Lithead also moved into said house with me.  I lived in this house until the 4^th day of April 1848.  I moved from this house to a house of shanty that Bro. W.G. Wilson had built for which I had to pay one dollar per month rent.  I lived in this house until 19^th of July when I moved into a house that was built for a grocery, which I lived until I left for Salt Lake Valley (rent $1.50 per month).